Welcome to The Storied Recipe Podcast, a show about food, culture, and love.
I’ve compiled this list of 17 global Thanksgiving dishes to complement my podcast series Thanksgiving Episodes, featuring guests who share their autumn traditions.
This roundup offers a fresh and playful take on Thanksgiving. While traditional recipes hold a special place in my heart, I wanted to explore inventive twists that use familiar Thanksgiving ingredients in international preparations.
Nearly every culture has harvest celebrations, but instead of focusing on global harvest dishes, I chose recipes that feature ingredients central to a U.S. Thanksgiving—turkey, stuffing, potatoes, squash, cranberries, pumpkin, pecans, and more—reimagined through international flavors.
Before you shop for your usual menu, let these ideas inspire you to try something new with beloved Thanksgiving staples.
P.S. Looking for more Thanksgiving recipes? Check out my other roundup, Harvest Festivals Around The World.
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How To Use This List
- These selections intentionally pair classic American Thanksgiving ingredients with international recipes—think “inspired by” rather than strictly traditional.
- Recipes are loosely grouped by category: mains, vegetables, desserts, and so on.
- Each entry shows the recipe title followed by the source.
- The categories in this post include: Turkey, Stuffing, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Squash, Corn, Green Beans, Brussels Sprouts, Maple Syrup, Root Vegetables, Onions, Cranberries, Pumpkin, Pecans, Pies, Rolls, and Cinnamon.
Turkey, Korea
A turkey centerpiece is expected at Thanksgiving, but swap a plain roast for a Korean sweet-and-spicy glazed turkey. This version features glutinous rice stuffing with soy, honey, chestnuts and squash, and a savory-sweet glaze with mirin, ginger, and garlic for bright, layered flavors.
Korean Glazed Turkey | Seonkyoung Longest
Give your turkey an unforgettable glaze with Korean flavors—sweet, spicy, and aromatic.
Stuffing, Greece
If stuffing is usually more tradition than favorite, try a Greek-style version filled with sausage, chestnuts, dates, and pine nuts for a richer, more exciting side.
Greek Turkey Stuffing With Sausage | The Greek Foodie
A savory stuffing that combines sausage, chestnuts, dates, and pine nuts for bold Mediterranean flavor.
Potatoes, Sweden
Mashed potatoes are expected, but Hasselback potatoes add drama and texture—thinly sliced, roasted until crisp and finished with sour cream for a crowd-pleasing side.
Swedish Hasselback Potatoes | Recipe Tin Eats
Thinly sliced, roasted potatoes that are crispy on the outside and tender within—perfect with a dollop of sour cream.
Sweet Potatoes, Jamaica
Try Jamaican sweet potato pudding—a custardy, crustless dessert similar to sweet potato pie but with Caribbean spices and a silky finish.
Jamaican Sweet Potato Pudding | Sweet and Sorrel
A baked, velvety sweet potato pudding that brings Caribbean warmth to your dessert table.
Squash, Mediterranean
Stuffed Mediterranean zucchini boats transform squash into a showstopper—filled with kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, basil, turkey sausage, and finished with Parmesan.
Mediterranean Zucchini Boats | Foodie Crush
Zucchini boats with a Mediterranean filling bring bright, herbaceous contrast to rich Thanksgiving plates.
Corn, Trinidad
Give your corn side an upgrade with a Trinidadian-style corn pie—cheesy, hearty, and baked in a single dish for maximum comfort.
Trinidadian Style Corn Pie | Jehan Can Cook
A creamy corn-and-cheese pie that’s savory, satisfying, and perfect for holiday tables.
Green Beans, Japan
Swap the casserole for blistered green beans tossed in miso and sesame for an umami-forward side that disappears fast.
Blistered Green Beans with Miso and Sesame | Kudos Kitchen By Renee
Green beans seared and coated in a savory miso-sesame glaze—simple, bold, and addictive.
Brussels Sprouts, Thailand
Make Brussels sprouts irresistible with a Thai-inspired sauce—crispy sprouts tossed in a spicy, tangy dressing that guests will love.
Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Thai Sauce | Kara Lydon
Crispy sprouts glazed with a Thai chili-fish-sauce inspired dressing for a bold vegetable course.
Maple Syrup, Canada
Maple-roasted carrots bring elegant sweetness and a glossy finish to your plate—simple, seasonal, and refined.
Maple Roasted Carrots | Two Spoons
Roasted carrots glazed with maple syrup and thyme—elegant, sweet, and seasonal.
Root Vegetables, Russia
Instead of a mixed vegetable casserole, try vegan shuba: layered cooked root vegetables arranged in a colorful, elegant tower that will entice even reluctant vegetable eaters.
Vegan Shuba: Layered Nori, Beet, Potato, Carrot Salad | The Storied Recipe
A beautiful layered salad of shredded cooked vegetables inspired by traditional preparations—delicate and striking on the table.
Onions, Philippines
Turn onions into a star side dish with Bistek Roasted Onions: marinated in soy and calamansi, then roasted until deeply caramelized and full of intense flavor.
Bistek Sibuyas | Rezel Kealoha
Roasted onions marinated in a toyo and calamansi dressing for rich, tangy flavor—an unexpected but delicious side.
Cranberries, India
A spicy, tangy cranberry pachadi (chutney) adds heat and brightness—use it on turkey, bread, or alongside roasted vegetables for an exciting contrast.
Cranberry Pachadi (Cranberry Chutney) | Cook’s Hideout
A spicy, tangy chutney made with fresh cranberries—an exciting alternative to classic cranberry sauce.
Pumpkin, Mexico
Rather than a traditional pumpkin pie, try pumpkin empanadas—pumpkin-spiced filling wrapped in sweet bread dough for a portable, comforting dessert.
Pumpkin Empanadas | Isabel Eats
A pumpkin-spiced filling wrapped in a soft, sweet dough—like a pumpkin pie you can hold in your hand.
Pecans, Egypt
Try pecan-date shortbread bars for a lighter take on pecan pie—these bars use dates instead of corn syrup for a richer, less processed sweetness.
Pecan Pie Shortbread Crust Bars Without Corn Syrup | The Storied Recipe
A pecan-date bar that blends Middle Eastern and American influences for a tastier, slightly healthier dessert.
Pies, The Netherlands
For a classic apple pie with history, try Appeltaart—the tall Dutch apple pie made with brown sugar shortcrust and cinnamon-filled apples, an original take predating many North American versions.
Appeltaart: Dutch Apple Pie | Sunday Baker
A deep, cinnamon-scented apple pie made in a brown sugar shortcrust that yields a rich, old-world dessert.
Rolls, France
No Thanksgiving is complete without rolls. These French bread rolls are light, fluffy, and easy to make—ideal for mopping up gravy and sauces.
French Bread Rolls | Mel’s Kitchen Cafe
Light, fluffy rolls that are friendly for beginners and perfect for any holiday table.
Cinnamon, Ecuador
End the evening with Canelazo, a warm spiced cinnamon rum drink from Ecuador. It’s cozy, aromatic, and a perfect way to transition from Thanksgiving into the holiday season.
Canelazo (Hot Spiced Cinnamon Rum Drink) | The Travel Bite
A hot, spiced rum drink that warms the body and soul—ideal for chilly holiday nights.
More Lists for Inspiration
- The Summer Seafood Tour: Seafood Recipes from Around the World
- Summer No Bake Desserts From Around the World
- Spring Dessert Charcuterie Board: Seasonal Fruits, Sweets, and Dessert Recipes
- Unique Dairy-Free Dip Ideas for Charcuterie Board
Recipe
17 International Recipes for a Non-Traditional Thanksgiving
No reviews
Description
Recipes contributed by friends and guests of The Storied Recipe Podcast.
Ingredients
- Korean Glazed Turkey — Seonkyoung Longest
- Greek Turkey Stuffing With Sausage — The Greek Foodie
- Hasselback Potatoes — Recipe Tin Eats
- Sweet Potato Pudding — Sweet and Sorrel
- Stuffed Mediterranean Zucchini Boats — Foodie Crush
- Trinidad Corn Pie — Jehan Can Cook
- Blistered Green Beans — Kudos Kitchen By Renee
- Crispy Thai Brussel Sprouts — Kara Lydon
- Maple Roasted Carrots — Two Spoons
- Vegan Shuba — Murielle Banackissa (guest)
- Bistek Roasted Onions (Bistek Sibuyas) — Rezel Kealoha
- Spicy Cranberry Chutney (Cranberry Pachadi) — Cook’s Hideout
- Pumpkin Empanadas — Isabel Eats
- Pecan Pie Shortbread Crust Bars — Nermine Mansour (guest)
- Appeltaart: Dutch Apple Pie — Sunday Baker
- French Bread Rolls — Mel’s Kitchen Cafe
- Spiced Cinnamon Rum Drink (Canelazo) — The Travel Bite
Instructions
Start with familiar American ingredients and introduce international techniques and flavors to create a non-traditional, flavorful Thanksgiving menu.